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Oct. 15, 1935. H. H. MOKEE CONTAINER Filed May 26 r AL 2,017,469

2 Sheets-Sheet l Immun Tgrf ht r2 y y n# 2 i l, [i e Oct. 15, 1935. H. H. MCKEE r-:r AL.

CONTAINER 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1934 @WLM ffy@

ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER Harry H. McKee and Carl L. Lohner, Chicago, lll.,

assignors to `Industrial Patents Corporation,

` Chicago, lll., a corporation of Delaware Application May' 26, 1934, Serial No. 727,620

claims. (crea-91.5)

5 vide an eicient, inexpensive insulated container of the returnable type, especially adapted for express shipments of food products and for use on unrefrigerated trucks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible container of this type.

An important object of the invention is to provide a means wherebymore perishable products such as fresh meat cuts, frozen meats, sweet pickle meats, cheese, butter and the like may be adequately protected with solid carbon dioxide when shipped in a refrigerator car loaded with less perishable. products requiring less refrigeration.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 'refrigerator package to insure protection for highly perishable items when shipped in poorly insulated refrigerator trucks.

-Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims which follow.

It will be seen thatthe present invention provides a novel container of the type described and also provides a novel, economical method of packing and shippingvhighly perishable foodstuffs.

The highly perishablev products such as fresh meats, frozen meats, sweet pickle meats, cheese, butter and the like constitute a relatively small proportion of the product ordinarily shipped in packer refrigerator cars. In an average car of this type carrying from 30,000 to 35,000 pounds of product, not more than 5,000 to 10,000 pounds would be considered highly perishable, the balance consisting of smoked meat, summer sausage, soap and other relatively less perishable merchandise.

If the highly perishable product is segregated and independently refrigerated it can be ignored in the consideration of the necessary refrigeration for the bulk of the car load. In accordance with the present invention the highly perishable product is packed in sealed containers refrigerated with solid carbon dioxide, and consequently during the major portion of the year it is unnecessary to ice packer refrigerator cars. Furthermore, in the summer the less perishable product can be adequately protected by icing the cars without salt and eliminating the necessity which otherwise would'exist `for re-icing.

In the accompanying drawings similar reference characters indicate similar elements in the several figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a collaps'ble container constructed in accordance with the present invention with the end pieces removed to show the inside construction.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one end piece.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through the side 5 walls of the container shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a. sectional detailed view of a corner l of the side walls.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container as it appears when completely closed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the container packed with packaged goods. I

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing the container packed with divers loose itemsof irregular contour.

Figure 8 is a view partly in section showing the container packed with bone-in meat cuts and packaged goods, as used in a refrigerator car.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is constructed of substantially rigid insulating material, preferably about twol inches thick, designated as I, covered with sheet'metal 2 on the,foutside and inside. The side walls 3 are hinged to each other with piano type hinges 4. The sheet metal covering the outer surfaces of side walls 3 extends beyond the end of the insulating material as at 5, forming a ledge or recess in which ends 6 may be nested. The outside of the container is covered with fabrics such as canvas 1 with flaps 8 to lap over the ends. Straps 9 30 are provided to secure iiaps 8 in the manner shown in Figure 5. Figure 4 illustrates the manner in which the sheet metal is secured to the insulating material as by nails I0.

It will be noted by reference to this figure that the sheet metal on the outside does not meet at the edges of adjacent sides and there is therefore no interference with collapsing. When the container is packed, liver racks II are inserted against the sides and the bottom to insure f ree circulation of air around the product.

In Figure 6, for example, a liver rack is placed on top of the packaged product I2, and solid carbon dioxide blocks I3 fastened on top of the top rack. Where loose meat I4 is packed as 45 shown in Figure '7, several thicknesses of heavy paper I5 as Kraft paper is utilized to prevent contact of the meat` with the racks, and layers of meat are separated by one or more thicknesses' of the same material.

Figure 8 discloses the manner of loading they container with bone-in meat cuts I5 suspended from conventional meat hooks I6 which pass through openings in the top of the container l and are suspended from the conventional rails in the refrigerator car or truck. The openings through which the meat hooks pass are preferably protected with fabric or metal flaps to cut down loss of refrigeration.

Packaged goods l2 may be packed in the bot` tom of the container to economize on space. Where desired, very low temperatures may be secured in the container by using larger quantitles of solid carbon dioxide than is necessary to carry the temperature low enough to be satisfactory for unfrozen meats.

We' claim:

1. A collapsible refrigerator container comprising hinged insulated side walls protected with sheet metal on the inner and outer surfaces and removable insulated sheet metal covered end pieces, racks within said container adjacent the sides and bottom to provide air circulation and a rack near the top within said container adapted to carry an anhydrous refrigerant, a cover for said container and means for closing said cover. A

2. A collapsible refrigerator container comprising hinged insulated side walls protected with sheet metal on the inner and outer surfaces and removable insulated sheet'metal covered end pieces, racks within said container adjacent the sides and bottom to provide air circulation and a rack near vthe top within said container adapted to carry an anhydrous refrigerant, a cover for said container and means for closing said cover, openings in the top of said container to ccmmodate suspension hooks and means for protecting said openings against refrigeration loss.

3. The method of hanging meat cuts in a re- 5 frigerated vehicle which comprises suspending the meat cutsl within a refrigerated container maintained at a lower temperature than the main body of the refrigerated vehicle, said meat cuts depending from suspension hooks carried by an 10 tainer, a cover for said container and means for closing said cover.

5. A collapsible refrigerator container compris- 20 ing hinged insulated side walls, removable insulated end pieces, racks within said container adjacent the sides and bottom to provide air circulation, a rack near the top within said container, a cover for said container, means for clos- 25 ing said cover, openings in the top of said container to commodate suspension hooks and means for protecting said openings against refrigerating loss.

' HARRY H. McKEE. 30

CARL L. LOHNER. 

